Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758

Masseti, Marco, 2009, Carnivores of Syria, ZooKeys 31 (3), pp. 229-252 : 233

Wolf, Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758

Fig. 2

This is the last carnivore of large dimensions still dispersed in the region, albeit seriously threatened with extinction (cf. Shalmon 2004). In the course of this study two stuffed specimens were observed in the collection of the Palmyra Archaeological Museum; according to the manager of the museum, Ali Tahr (pers. comm. 1994), they were captured in the vicinity between 1970 and 1975. The adult stuffed specimen in the Basamfasal collection was hunted in the area of Jabal Bishri, between Raqqa and Deir-ez-Zor (cf. Masseti 2001) ; it appeared not to be pure-blooded but more likely the result of a wolf-dog crossing. According to F. Al-Yassine (1994, pers. comm.), wolves were present but rare in the mountains of Shoëh and north of Ifreen , whereas Abu Mazen (1994, pers. comm.) claimed they were also present in the Alawit Mountains (Bab Janné). In April 1994, three live individuals were observed in the zoological garden at Douma , originating respectively from Jabal Deir ez-Zor, Mayadin and Abu Kamal. At that time, the species appeared to be still dispersed in eastern Syria .

Figures

Figure 2. Wolf, Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758.